Red Dead Redemption 2: From Gaming To Cowboy

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A right turn took him past the Gunsmith's shop, where the door still swung lazily from Arthur's recent exit. Then he saw it, Keane's Saloon, a modest and small, one story affair with flaking red paint and a faded sign. It sat tucked on the left side of the road, nestled between a boarded up house and a small house.

Caleb dismounted, hitched Morgan carefully, and saw that there was no sign of Dutch's prized white Arabian, The Count. Strauss's nag wasn't here either. Meaning Dutch and Strauss weren't in town yet, it was okay, he could stay and wait at Keane's saloon until Dutch and Strauss arrived, so he walked inside.

The saloon was dim and smelled faintly of whiskey, wood smoke, and pipe tobacco. It was quieter than Smithfield's Saloon on the main street, as both have been losing their clientele, due to the bigger and much better Smithfields Saloon.

Now, Keane's saloon catered to the softer spoken types, merchants, traveling peddlers, and sometimes, men with secrets.

Caleb approached the bar. Mr. Keane looked up from polishing a glass behind the bar counter. "Morning Caleb or should I call Deputy Thorne now," he greeted in a low, gravelly tone.

"Morning Mr. Keane," Caleb replied, easing onto the stool. "You can call me whatever you want. Cale or Deputy Thorne. You pick."

Mr. Keane blinked once, then nodded. "Okay, then I call to uDeputy from now on. By the way, I wanted to ask, it's true that you are the one who brought that bastard, Edmund?"

"Yeah that's true," Caleb said, brushing a speck of dust from his coat. "It's dumb luck as well that I manage to break his sick games and capture him."

"Well, Deputy," Mr. Keane said, setting a glass in front of him. "First drink's on the house. For managing to get that bastard and keep us safe."

Caleb nodded in thanks. "I'll take a rye whiskey. Neat."

Mr. Keane poured it without fuss, and Caleb settled in, facing the door. He didn't have to wait long.

About thirty minutes later, the saloon doors creaked open. Caleb looked up immediately and he saw it, Dutch van der Linde entered and approached the bar, his presence commanding even in this dimly lit hole.

His dark hair was slicked back covered by his hat, his goatee neatly trimmed, and his burgundy coat immaculate. Beside him, Leopold Strauss adjusted his spectacles, looking every bit the unassuming accountant.

Mr. Keane hesitated, eyeing Dutch's flamboyance with suspicion. "Finest we got is Kentucky Bourbon. That suit you?"

Dutch waved a hand. "Perfectly."

As the bartender fetched the bottle, Caleb made his move. He stood, feigning slight intoxication, and ambled toward the bar.

"Mind if I join you gents?" he asked, slurring just enough to sell the act while giving subtle signals to Dutch. "Place is damn near empty, and drinkin' alone's a sad affair."

Dutch turned, his sharp eyes as surpassed to see Caleb in here. But he also immediately noticed the subtle signals Caleb gave, and a flicker of understanding, passed over his face before he smiled, all charm.

"By all means, friend. Always room at the table for a fellow drinking partner."

Caleb grinned, changing to sit on a closer stool. "Much obliged. Name's Thorne. Caleb Thorne. I'm a deputy here in Valentine."

Strauss stiffened slightly at Caleb using his real name, but Dutch remained well acted as he knew Caleb needed to use his real name. "A pleasure to know you, Deputy," Dutch said smoothly. "I'm… James. James Arlington. And this is my associate, Mr. Lutz. We're in the bonds trade."

Caleb chuckled lightly. "Well, Mr. Arlington and Mr. Lutz… guess we can never be too careful these days."

Dutch laughed too. "You'd know all about that, wouldn't you, Deputy?"

They drank, and shared small talk, mostly fabricated, but none of it important and it was fortunate that Dutch kept up the act as well. Caleb steered the conversation toward innocuous topics like the weather, horses, rail lines, and card games.

As for Dutch, ever the showman, spun tales of "business ventures" out west, while Strauss sipped his drink in silence. As they talked, Caleb kept one eye and ear open for what was happening outside.

Then, at this time, the doors burst open.

Arthur and John strode in, dust covered and smelling of sheep. Arthur's gaze locked onto Dutch, then flicked to Caleb. His eyes showed surprise seeing Caleb here as well, but hid it as he heard Caleb calling Dutch and Strauss with fake names.

As for Dutch, seeing Arthur and John, immediately brought them into the conversation so it wouldn't be a tad suspicious, "Ah! Mr. Kilgore! Mr. Milton! You finally come, please let me introduce you to a friend we just made, deputy Caleb Thorne."

Hearing the use of their alias names, Arthur and John immediately followed suit.

"Well I'll be," Arthur said, scratching his beard and flashing Caleb a knowing look as he extended his hand to Caleb. "Deputy Thorne, didn't expect to see you here. Helped me a few times here in Valentine, real stand up sort."

Caleb shook his hand firmly, playing along. "Mr. Kilgore. Been a while."

John caught on quick, nodding in agreement. "That's right. Good man. Got a proper head on his shoulders."

Dutch, ever the consummate actor, arched an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly with a smile. "Oh really now? Is that true, Deputy Thorne? Seems we've all crossed paths before. Small world, isn't it?."

Caleb gave a relaxed grin and nodded, playing his role just as smoothly. "Yes, sir, that's true, Mr. Arlington. Mr. Kilgore here's been a friend of mine. It's truly a small. I had no idea the two of you were acquainted, Mr.

Arlington."

Dutch leaned back, lifting his glass slightly as if toasting. "Well, as you yourself said earlier, we can never be too careful these days, Deputy. So I alongside Mr. Lutz that is, hired both Mr. Kilgore and Mr. Milton here to serve as our guards while we're in town."

He turned to Arthur and John, his voice still warm but tinged with curiosity. "By the way, what took the two of you so long?"

Arthur tilted his hat back slightly, speaking in a relaxed tone. "We took on some side work, Milton's thing," he said with a hand gestured toward John.

Dutch nodded, acting unsurprised but mildly amused. "I see. And how's the work?"

Arthur leaned one elbow against the bar. "It's good. We're waiting on a payout for... some sheep we escorted into the auction yard."

Caleb's grip tightened slightly on his glass. "Here it comes." he thought inwardly.

Dutch laughed lightly, turning toward Strauss with a theatrical flair and raising both hands as if presenting an idea to a stage. "Mr. Lutz, my good friend and business partner! While you're here, why don't you and Mr. Milton go on and make sure there was no funny business with that pay Mr. Kilgore and Mr. Milton are expecting?"

Strauss adjusted his spectacles, already halfway standing. "Of course," he said crisply.

John nodded his head slightly. "Gentlemen," he added, beginning to follow Strauss out of the saloon.

But Caleb's voice cut in, calm and firm. "Wait a minute, friends."

Both men halted, glancing over their shoulders. Dutch and Arthur paused as well, turning to face Caleb with a flicker of alertness in their eyes.

Dutch subtly asked, "What's wrong, deputy?" through barely parted lips, his eyes narrowing.

Caleb leaned in, voice barely above a whisper. "Don't worry. The auctioneers ain't gonna be a problem."

His tone shifted, quiet but loaded with weight. "There's a bigger problem ahead other than the auctioneer, and I came here to inform the Sheriff. It's better to stay inside for now."

Dutch's jaw tightened just a hair, his eyes calculating. Arthur's hand instinctively hovered near his gunbelt. John frowned, and Strauss looked between the men with visible unease.

But all four of them were smart in their own right and they understood the warning in Caleb's words. Trouble wasn't coming. Trouble was already here.

Before Dutch could ask why Caleb hadn't said anything earlier, the sharp bellow of a voice cut through the late morning air like a crack of thunder.

"Van der Linde! Van der Linde! Get here now! Van der Linde!"

A silence fell over the saloon like a heavy shroud. Everyone froze. Even Mr. Keane froze behind the bar. The floorboards creaked as Arthur slowly made his way to the window that faced the street. He pulled the curtain aside with two fingers and peered out.

"Shit," he muttered.

Outside, seated atop a polished light bay horse, was a rotund middle aged man in an expensive, pinstriped suit that barely contained his gut. His cheeks were red with rage, a gold watch chain glittered across his vest, and he waved a cigar in one hand as he bellowed again.

At this time, the rotund man's voice roared again."You don't know me, but you keep robbing me! I'm Leviticus Cornwall, and I'm not a man to be messed with by the likes of you! Get out here! Get out here now, you depraved piece of trash!"

Six men was alongside him. One man rode on a horse beside Cornwall, holding a Lancaster repeater and his rifle was sling across his back. The others were armed with repeaters and revolvers, stood in front of Cornwall and formed a semi circle in the muddy street.

"You think I got where I am by lettin' scum like you rob from me? Van der Linde, you're done!"

Dutch stared ahead, his jaw clenched as his eyes flicked to Arthur, then to Caleb. "What the hell?" he growled under his breath.

Arthur turned from the window. "He said his name was Leviticus Cornwall. That bastard owns the train we robbed before at the grizzlies, he must've traced us here."

Dutch looked at each man in the group, the tension suddenly crackling like static. "What do we do? Any ideas, gentlemen?"

Caleb stood up, brushing the dust off his coat with deliberate calm. "Let me handle this. I'm the Deputy of Valentine, and this gentleman out there's barking up the wrong tree."

He turned toward Dutch, Arthur, John, and Strauss and gave a subtle nod. "There's no one named Van der Linde here. And while I talk to him, I suggest you all take the back door and make yourselves scarce to keep yourselves safe."

Dutch hesitated, frowning hard, but Caleb's eyes told the story: There's no time. Go. Now.

Dutch turned to Arthur and gave the faintest of gestures. Arthur nodded, then slapped John's shoulder lightly. "Come on," he muttered.

Strauss didn't argue. He had enough sense to understand the stakes. The four men quietly slipped through the saloon's back, disappearing into the alley behind the building. Caleb waited until he heard the back door creak shut before exhaling slowly.

Then he stepped out through the open saloon door.

The eyes of Cornwall's men landed on him immediately, and the fat man pulled his cigar away, looking mildly confused.

"Who the hell are you, lawman.?"

Caleb didn't flinch. "Deputy Caleb Thorne, Valentine lawman," he said evenly. His badge caught a glint of sun as he took one more step forward. "You're causin' a hell of a stir, mister. Folks around here don't take kindly to threats and hollerin' in the street."

Cornwall blinked, as if trying to place the name. "Where's Van der Linde?" he demanded.

"Don't know who that is," Caleb said. "Ain't nobody in this town by that name. You must be mistaken."

"Don't play dumb with me! You-" Cornwall snapped.

Caleb cut in, voice calm but firm. "I've been inside Keane's for the past hour. The only folks in there are a couple of businessmen and some ranch hands. No 'Van der Linde.'"

Cornwall leaned forward in his saddle, jowls trembling. "Don't lie to me, boy. You know who I am?"

"I heard and know of you sir," Caleb said, calm but firm. "Mr. Leviticus Cornwall. Big rail baron, industrialist, and now, it seems, a man makin' accusations without proof."

Cornwall's face turned crimson. "Van der Linde has been stealin' from me for months. My trains, my payroll, my bonds, and even my oil! Van der Linde and his gang think they can outwit me! But they are making a big mistake thinking they can outwit me! Now I ask again, where's Van der Linde?!"

...

Name: Caleb Thorne

Age: 23

Body Attributes:

- Strength: 7/10

- Agility: 6/10

- Perception: 8/10

- Stamina: 7/10

- Charm: 5/10

- Luck: 6/10

Skills:

- Handgun (Lvl 2)

- Rifle (Lvl 2)

- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 2)

- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)

- Knife (Lvl 1)

- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)

- Sneaking (Lvl 2)

- Horse Mastery (Lvl 3)

- Poker (Lvl 3)

- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 1)

- Eagle Eye (Lvl 1)

- Dead Eye (Lvl 1)

- Bow (Lvl 2)

- Pain Nullifier (Lvl 1)

- Physical Regeneration (Lvl 0)

- Crafting (Lv1)

- Persuasion (Lvl 2)

- Mental Fortitude (Lvl MAX)

- Cooking (Lvl 2)

- Teaching (Lvl 1)

Money: 1463 dollars and 45 cents and 2 gold nuggets

Bank: 320 dollars, 4 gold bars, a large bag of jewelry, and 3 gold nuggets